INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY

Faculty Senate approves law school, new department

New officers also elected

The Faculty Senate on Tuesday approved two proposals — one to establish the Asian and Asian American Studies Department and another to establish a law school.

John Chaffee, director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Program, said the new department is an outgrowth of the current program and will address issues of culture and languages. He noted that the department will continue to work with faculty who have joint appointments and titles as appropriate and necessary, as has been its practice.

Provost Mary Ann Swain spoke about the law school proposal, noting that the campus will need approvals from the SUNY system, the SUNY Board of Trustees and the governor to move forward. She also outlined both the intellectual synergy that would result from establishment of a law school, as well as the political and financial implications for the campus.

In other business, Michael McGoff, acting vice president for administration, spoke about the status of the University’s budget. McGoff said that the campus is initially dealing with the 2.9 percent cut approved by the New York State Legislature, but does not have definitive answers about additional cuts asked for by the governor and the state’s budget division. He added that the governor has not imposed a hiring freeze on SUNY at this point, but the campus is looking carefully at all open positions.

The senate also approved the degree candidates for Commencement and elected Sara Reiter, professor of management, as vice chair for the upcoming academic year, and Caryl Ward, head of acquisitions for the libraries, as secretary. Richard Naslund, professor of geological sciences and environmental studies, will remain chair for a second year.

The full faculty was also presented with proposed changes to the senate’s bylaws and will be asked to vote on them.